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No. 690,203. v Patented Dad. 3|, 190].

W, F. STIMPSDN. SCALE.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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(Applicationfil ed Nov. 6, 1899.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES TATENT FFICE.

WALTER F. STIMPSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,203, dated December 31, 1901. Application filed November 6, 1899. Serial ITO-735,947: (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER F. STIMPsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at De troit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scales, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to computing-scales of that class in which the computations are placed upon the revoluble cylinder, the latter being actuated by the scale mechanism to bring the computations corresponding to weight into view. Heretofore scales of this kind have been constructed with the cylinder arranged to rotate upon a horizontal axis and with the index or window through which the particular computations corresponding to the weight are exhibited also'arranged in a horizontal line. With this arrangement the computations of the same unit of price are placed in circumferential .columns around the cylinder, and the separate figures composing said computation extend side by side transversely of said rows. As most of the numerals comprising the computations contain at least two figures, and a great many of them three or more figures, the rows in which they are placed are necessarily of a width sufficient to place three figures of a legible size side by Thus the length of the cylinder must rows correspond. At the same time each circumferential column contains numerals expressed by a lesser number of figures and which could be placed in columns of .a lesser Width.

It is the object of my invention. to obtain an arrangement in which the same number of numerals may be placed in a smaller space, and to this end my invention consists,broadly, in the arrangement of the computing-cylinder to revolve upon a'vertical axis, whereby the separate figures of the computations of each unit of price may be arranged side by side longitudinally of their proper circumferential With this arrangement the width of each column need only be sufficieut to contain theheight of the figure, which is considerably less than the space required for several figures arranged side by side.

The invention further consists in the peculiar construction of the actuating connection between such cylinder and the scale mechanism,and,further,in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In thejdrawings, Figure l is a vertical cen-- tral section through my scale. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof online x m. Fig. 3 is about elevation of a port-ion of the scale with the casing broken away to show the computingcylinder. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the scale viewed from the opposite side from Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic section showing a modified form of my device. Fig.

6 is a similar View showing another modification, and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan illustrating still another modification. Fig. 8 is an enlarged. section of the upper end of the cylinder-shaft and flexible-shaft connection.

A is a suitable casing forming a supportingframe for the operating parts of the scale and provided at its upper end with a ring or hook,

such as A, for supporting it from above.

B represents springs connected at their upper ends to the casing A and at their lower ends to the yoke frame or runner O, which latteris provided with acentral depending hook D, adapted to support the platform or pan.

Within the casing A and arranged to rotate upon a vertical axis is the computingcylinder E. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to I this cylinder is arranged between the bifurcations of the yoke-frame C and with its axis in the plane of the springs B. The cylinder E is provided with an actuating connection between it and the frame 0, which in the figures above referred to is shown as consisting of a vertically-extending rack-bar a, arranged at one side of the cylinder and preferably pivotally connected at?) to the frame 0. This rack-bar meshes with the pinion c, journaled on suitable stationary bearings within the casing, a spring 1) serving to hold the rack-bar in mesh, while the pivot 1) permits a slight oscillation of the frame 0.

dis a shaft upon which the cylinder E is mounted. This shaft at its lower end is preferably tapered to a point and rests upon a suitable bearing 6. At its upper end the shaft is connected with a flexible shaftf, the latter being connected at its opposite end with the pinion c. This flexible-shaft connection is preferably of the usual helicalspring type, such as is employed in dental engines and other like machines. In order to economize space, the pinion c is preferably located just above the top of the cylinder E, and to provide for the necessary curvature in the flexible shaft fthe upper end of the shaft (1 is considerably below the upper end of the cylinder. Thus a recess is formed within the cylinder, in which the flexible shaft is located.

9 is a bearing for the upper end of the shaft d, which is secured at the lower end of a downwardly-projecting yoke or arm 7L, secured to the casing. To reduce friction toa minimum, this bearing g engages with a reduced portion 01 of the shaft d, which is of as small diameter as possible, leaving suflicient strength for the drive connection with the flexible shaft f.

With the construction just described it will be readily understood that the vertical movement of the hook D and yoke C will impart asimilar movement to the rack-bar a, and thus by its engagement wit-h the pinion 0 will rotate the cylinderjE through the flexibleshaft connection f. In this form of transmission frictional resistance is reduced to the minimum, so that the accuracy of the scale is in no way interfered with. Resistance is still further diminished by reason of the reduced bearing portion 2' on the shaft cl and the pointed bearing at the lower end of said shaft. It will be observed that with this construction the rack-bar a is out of the direct line of draft-that is, the center line of the hook D. There will be, however, but slight tendency to move this rack-bar unequally, as the weight of the cylinder E and its frictional resistance is but a small factor in comparison with the dead-weight of the frame 0 and pan or platform suspended therefrom. In order to guard against any possibility of inaccuracy, vI preferably provide the antifrictionrolls j, arranged within the casing and adapted to bear against the opposite bifurcations of the frame 0. These rolls are journaled on small pin-bearings, so as to reduce friction, and are adapted to guide the movement of the frame 0 in a vertical line, thus preventing any unequal movement of the two sides of the frame.

The construction above described I deem as simple and effective as any form in which the vertical movement of the weighing-pan is transmitted to a rotary movement of the cylinder journaled on a vertical axis. It is obvious, however, that other constructions may be employed, such as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, in which two latter figures the flexible shaftf is employed; but instead of placing the rack-bar a at one side of the cylinder, in Fig. 6 it is shown in axial line with said cylinder and above the same, while the pinion 0 is connected to the shaft d by an S shaped flexible shaft having an intermediate bearing 7a. This construction does away with the possibility of unequal movement of the springs and rack-bar a, the latter being located in the center line of draft. The form of the flexible shaftf is, however, not as desirable as that shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 7 the rack-bar Ct is located in the plane of the springs 13; but the cylinder E is placed forward, so as to clear said rack-bar. The objection to this construction is that the axis of the cylinder being moved out of the plane of the springs gives an unsymmetrical appearance to the casing and requires the counterbalancing of the same-as, for in stance, by providing a rearwardly-extending lug Z thereon. In Fig. 5 I show a bevel-gear transmission between the pinion c and the shaft d. I believe, however, that this form of transmission will introduce a larger element of friction than where a flexible shaft is employed. The cylinderE is provided with a series of circumferential columns, preferably divided from each other by rulings or lines 772. The breadth (or more properly the height) of these columns is sufficient to contain the height of the figures composing the computations, which computations are placed side by side within the columns. With the smaller units of price-such, for instance, as the two cents or three centsall the computations thereof may be placed in their corresponding circumferential columns-that is, every integral number intermediate the lowest and highest computation is placed within the columns. with the higher denominations this would not be possible, as there is not sufficient space to permit of placing every number, andI therefore preferably place only a portion of the numerals, such as one in two or one in five. The numbers intermediate these printed numerals are indicated by dots or division-marks, such as n, and in order that these may be understood the window in the casing through which the computations are read is of sufficient width to expose at least one numeral in each column, in connection with which the intermediate points may be read. To accurately designate the particular point corresponding to the weight, I provide a suitable index, such as the wire 0, extending vertically across the window in the casing. Upon this casing, adjacent to the window therein, are arranged a series of vertical columns, in the first of which are placed the units of price opposite their corresponding columns on the cylinder. In the other columns are placed computations corresponding to one or two complete revolutions of the cylinder, so that where the article weighed is of sufficient heft to cause more than one revolution of the cylinder the price may be determined by adding the indicated compuiation on the cylinder to the corresponding computation s in the proper column upon the casing. At one or both ends of the cylinder I arrange weight-indications p; but preferably these, are arranged at the upper end of the cylinder only and are Viewed at the top of the window for the computations. In order that the customer, as well as the salesman, may see the weight indicated, I provide a window (1 upon the opposite side of the casing. Through this the line r,havingthe fractional weight markings, may be Viewed; but inasmuch as the numeral on one side of the cylinder would be different from that on the opposite side a second series of numerals s is provided, arranged in inverse order and upon the opposite side of the line 1". The windows upon opposite sides of the casing are so arranged as to expose the numerals of the proper series therefor and to shield the opposite series.

WhatI claimas my invention is 1. In a scale, the combination of a frame, a computing-cylinder journaled therein and arranged to rotate upon a vertical axis, springs arranged upon opposite sides of said cylinder, a yoke connected to said springs, and having a central support for the weighing-platform, a Vertically-moving rack-bar connected to said yoke, a pinion meshing therewith and journaled in said frame, and an actuating connection between said pinion and said cylinder.

2. In a scale, the combination of a frame, a com puting-cylinder journaled therein and arranged to rotate upon a vertical axis, springs arranged upon opposite sides of said cylinder and connected to said frame, a bifurcated yoke-frame embracing said cylinder and connected to said springs having a central support for the weighing-platform, and an actuating connection between said yoke-frame and cylinder.

3. In a scale, a computingcylinder arranged upon a vertical axis and having a recess at its upper end and an actuating connection for said cylinder comprising an intermediate rotary member arranged on a horizontal axis above said cylinder and a curved flexible shaft between said intermediate rotary member and cylinder arranged with its curved portion in the recess in said cylinder.

4:. In a scale, a computing-cylinder, a vertical shaft upon which said cylinder is mounted having a conical lower end and a portion at its upper end of reduced diameter, a bearing upon which the lower end rests and a second bearing engaged with said reduced portion of shaft, a rotary member arranged upon a horizontal axis having an operating connection with the scale-platform, and a flexible shaft connecting said rotary member with the upper end'of said vertical shaft. 5. In a scale, the combination of a frame, a hollow computing-cylinder open at one end journaled in said frame and arranged to rotate upon a vertical axis, a rack-bar connected to a Vertically-moving member of the scale extending into said cylinder, a pinion journaled in said frame meshing with said rack-bar and an actuating connection between said pinion and said cylinder. v In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' WALTER F. STIMPSON; Witnesses:

M. B. ODoeHER'rY, H. 0. SMITH. 

